Identification means for steering wheels and the like



June 29, 1937. H. A. HUSTED 2,085,023

IDENTIFICATION MEANS FOR STEERING WHEELS AND THE LIKE Filed May 14, 19552 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTORNEY June 29, 1937. H, HUSTED 2,085,023

IDENTIFICATION MEANS FOR STEERING WHEELS AND THE LIKE Filed May 14, 19352 SheetsSheet 2 4/, g flauwmzww ATTORNEY Patented June 29, 1937 EDSTATES PATENT OFFICE IDENTIFICATION MEANS FOR STEERING WHEELS AND THELIKE Harry A. Busted, Akron, Ohio, assignor, by

mesne assignments,

to Dr. James S. Reid,

Claims.

The present invention relates to means adapted to be associated withsteering wheels for automobiles for identification purposes fordiscouraging theft and to aid in the recovery of the 5 stolen vehicles.

The general objects are stated in my prior Patent No. 2,001,349, issuedMay 14, 1935.

The specific objects of the present invention include convenientapplication of such identifying means to steering wheels and partsthereof and which may be cheaply manufactured and easily and permanentlyapplied; more specifically to provide variations for applying suchnumbers either on the steering wheel spoke or body of mai5 terialforming the outer portion of the spoke as well as identifying the hornbuttons ,and the like.

As stated in my prior application such identification means may be readthrough the closed Windows of an automobile and because of the warningresulting from the visible identifying number or the like, theft of acar bearing such identification means is avoided. Correspondingly,insurance rates on cars so equipped may be lowered.

A further object similar to objects stated in my prior application is torender the identification number or character difiicult of removalwithout showing the results of attempted alteration,

In the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a steering wheel with the identification numberon the upper portion of the spoke.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary segment somewhat enlarged showing a detail ofsuch number plate.

Fig. 3 is a vertical transfer section slightly enlarged taken on theplane indicated by the line 3--3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a similar view showing a different 40 spoke construction.

Fig. 5 is a still further enlarged section of a hollow spoke with thenumber plate.

Fig. 6 is a plan view of a horn button having an identification thereon.

Fig. 7 is a section taken on the line l-i of Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a section similar to Fig. 7 showing a modified form of thehorn button number arrangement.

Fig. 9 is a plan of the metallic member of the modified form of Fig. 8.

Figs. 10 and 11 are transverse fragmentary sections through a moldmember showing means for locating a number prior to applying plasticmaterial to a spoke, such as shown in Fig. 4.

Describing the structure shown in the drawings by the use of referencenumerals, a steering wheel of the usual present day construction isshown in Fig. 1 as having a rim I, spokes 2, hub portion 4, and hornbutton 5.

On one of the spokes is shown the identifying character comprising forillustration numerals ID with decorative members II at either end topreclude attempts to alter the number by extending it.

On such numbers I 0 may be applied to spokes of the type of Figs. 3 or 4the one having pressed metal core l2 the other the spoke of the wheelspider being formed of a round rod M, in each case plastic material suchas hard rubber or any thermoplastic material l5, may constitute acoating or body of the spoke.

The numbers H) are shown as raised from and formed intervally byembossing on a light thin metallic plate. These may be previouslylocated in the mold cavity such as indicated at l8 while pins as at 20may pass through small openings as at 2| of Figs, 1, 2, and 11, tolocate the number strip while the material I5 is formed in the cavityaround the spoke. As shown in Fig. 10 the elements ll may be raisedslightly above the finished surface of the spoke and correspond inglyfit into depressions of the cavity l8 thus locating the strip during themolding process.

It will be seen that when so molded into the material it is only bymolding equipment that such a number strip could be removed andreplaced, thus when the wheel is secured as by spot welding on to thesteering column, alteration is very difficult.

The form shown in Fig. 5 corresponds more nearly to that described in myabove designated co-pending application. It illustrates a form of stripIlla having a raised number portion flush with the surface of thematerial I5 while the spoke l ia is hollow instead of solid rod, and theside flanges or base of the strip lflb fit over the surface of thespoke. This strip may be permanently secured as by welding, soldering orthe like to the spoke member Hill.

In the horn button arrangement of Figs. 6 and 7 a cap shaped memberhaving a flange 26 forms the core and incidentally the usual contactmember of the button. On it is molded suitable plastic material 23 inwhich the number strip 30 with its characters showing as appears in Fig.6 flush with the surface is molded. The number strip may have bothnumerals as appears and embossed raised symbols or circles as at 32,

- receiving locating pins in the mold, thus positioning the numberduring the molding of the plastic material 28.

In the forms shown in Figs. 8 and 9, the contact portion of the cappreferably is formed of a cylindrical part 35 and a flange 3B andcentral bridge member 31, on which the numerals 38 are embossed. Theplastic material 28 may then be molded onto that frame, leaving thenumbers flush-as there appears. Such horn buttons are usually secured bya screw ring as indicated at 6 in Fig. 1, and by permanently affixingthis ring to the button when applied, it requires replacement of theseparts and as with the steering wheels replacement may be done onlythrough registered agencies effecting alteration.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that the above arepractical, commercial, useful modifications of the subject matter of myapplication of which this may be considered a continuation in part.

Further modifications may be made without departing from the spirit ofmy invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. An automobile steering wheel horn button having a frame member andmolded coating thereon, the frame having embossed characters integralwith the frame which project through the coating and appear at thesurface thereof.

2. An article having a sheet metal frame with identification charactersembossed in the surface thereof and a coating of plastic material moldedaround said frame, said characters projecting through said coating tothe outer surface of said article.

3. An article having a hollow metallic frame with raised charactersembossed in the surface thereof, and a coating of plastic materialmolded to said frame, the thickness of said coating being substantiallyequal to the height of said raised characters.

4. An automobile horn button having a sheet metal frame, raisedidentification characters embossed in the surface of said frame, and acoating of thermoplastic material molded to the frame, the upper surfaceof said raised characters being flush with the outer surface of saidcoating.

5. A steering wheel horn button having a substantially cylindricalbilged frame of sheet metal, a plurality of raised identificationcharacters embossed in the bilged portion of said frame, said framehaving a coating of thermoplastic material, and said characters beingvisible at the surface of said coating.

HARRY A. HUSTED.

